National Geographic: Hong Kong Starts Countdown to Ivory Trade Ban (2)

First posted on 2016-06-27     Wildlife Watch Hong Kong Starts Countdown to Ivory Trade Ban Hong Kong’s five-year plan for closing its ivory market will eliminate a legal loophole exploited by smugglers. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED June 27, 2016 Chinese police stand guard over ivory that was seized from a boat arriving from Hong Kong in March.…

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National Geographic: Palm Oil’s Human Cost Alleged in New Report (2)

First posted 2016-06-27     Palm Oil’s Human Cost Alleged in New Report Indonesian plantations are accused of exploitative labor conditions and other harmful practices by a coalition of nonprofit groups. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED June 8, 2016   Workers unload oil palm fruit in Banten Province, Indonesia. The important crop is the target of a new report…

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Huffington Post: The Secret Trade That Threatens Rare Birds (2)

First posted on 2016-04-27   The Secret Trade That Threatens Rare Birds 04/26/2016 03:46 pm ET By Laurel Neme Author and freelance journalist        The Uganda Wildlife Authority safeguarded these African gray parrots before releasing them into a national park. A new study reveals that Singapore has been a major conduit for the trade in…

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National Geographic: Inside the Secret Trade That Threatens Rare Birds (2)

Inside the Secret Trade That Threatens Rare Birds Singapore is a major transit hub for trade in threatened birds, especially African grey parrots. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED April 19, 2016 The Uganda Wildlife Authority safeguarded these African gray parrots before releasing them into a national park. A new study reveals that Singapore has been a major conduit…

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National Geographic: Happy Ending for Smuggled Pangolins (2)

    Wildlife Watch Happy Ending for Smuggled Pangolins 16 rare scaly anteaters are back in the wild after being rescued from Vietnam’s illegal wildlife trade. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED March 15, 2016 This story was updated to reflect that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a preliminary finding to a scientific petition submitted by…

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Huffington Post: For Pangolins, A Long Hard Road to Freedom (2)

For Pangolins, A Long Hard Road to Freedom 03/18/2016 12:51 pm ET by Laurel Neme Freelance Journalist and Author                   This pangolin was recently rehabilitated and released in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife. Pangolins are scaly anteaters about the size of a house cat. They’re presumed to…

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Huffington Post: This Elusive Bird Isn’t Safe From Traffickers (2)

      This Elusive Bird Isn’t Safe From Traffickers 03/03/2016 01:58 pm ET Laurel Neme Freelance Journalist and Author Male Javan banded pitta by Doug Janson via Wikimedia                       Pittas are a birdwatcher’s prize. Called “jewels of the forest” for their glorious plumage, these shy,…

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National Geographic: One Country Will Destroy Its Ivory—and Pray for Elephants (2)

  One Country Will Destroy Its Ivory—and Pray for Elephants Sri Lanka also becomes the world’s first country to apologize that elephants are being killed for their ivory. By Laurel Neme PUBLISHED Mon Jan 25 12:04:00 EST 2016 During the past several years, I’ve watched country after country destroy their stockpiles of confiscated elephant ivory, preventing that ivory from…

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